The most informative musical era for me growing up was 1972
through 1976, High School. For the most part, that encompassed progressive
rock, which by '73 had peaked, with a smattering of The Who (Quadrophenia) Zeppelin (particularly Houses
of the Holy) and Bowie (Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs). But mostly for me, it
was all about Yes and Genesis, Gentle Giant and Amon Düül II. Utilizing a jaded rubric that only allows for one record per band, here are my
favorite classic-era progressive rock LPs. There is something
glaringly obvious about the list: there is no such thing as American progressive rock (and don’t
say Styx or I’ll have one of those little throw-ups in my mouth). And my choices were as predictable as expected.
Now, for those of you determined to stick up for American
progressive rock and scream “Zappa” at the top of your lungs – I rescind my
statement, but Zappa is in a category all its/his own. And let me
add that American psychedelia far overshadows what the British were doing. In a
way, prog was a construct of psychedelia owing much to the Beatles and the American
psychedelic scene, but it is British by default.
Those codicils and disclaimers out of the way, here is my
list. 10 – 1. And again, it’s quite predictable. Later in the week we'll explore some of the offshoots of the movement and a bevy of less predictable titles.
10. Camel – The Snow
Goose. Simply a beautifully accomplished instrumental LP , the music is
deceivingly light and airy with some of the most precise guitar work on record.
There’s an obvious Floyd feel to it – much of the headier parts sound like
Echoes outtakes, but it’s lovely on its surface, but like the story from which
it comes, it’s all between the lines.
9. Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick. While it’s hard for me
not to choose Aqualung or even A Passion Play, which is more cohesively
conceptual, this is the classic Tull LP and ultimately listenable in its
entirety. The concept piece, about a lurid poem written by a young boy
named Gerald Bostock is balanced and quirky and plays
like an off-centered Harry Potter construct. Here lies incredible musicianship
and of course the centerpiece is
Anderson’s flute and his Dickensian delivery. The cover folds out
into a daily newspaper with clues to the hidden meanings, which Anderson says
don’t exist, that it is all a ruse. This selection, alongside Selling England
and Octopus show just how British prog is.
8. ELP - Trilogy – Gorgeous Lake vocals and a production
that is far less bombastic than Brain Salad Surgery.
7. Alan Parsons Project – Tales of Mystery and Imagination
– When production tops everything else, that’s the calling card of Alan
Parsons. Texture upon texture. This is a pop/classical LP for sure, but
brilliant and still as listenable today as in 1975.
6. Renaissance – Scheherazade – The most unusual and underrated
of the bunch. Beautiful vocals of Annie Haslam, sprawling imagery and a mastery
of progressive balladry. It’s like prog minuet.
5. Dark Side of the Moon – Do I have to say anything at
all?
4. Gentle Giant – Octopus - Octopus is complex and offbeat, but the
ensemble musicianship has few peers. There are elements of jazz and folk,
and the mixed vocals give the whole album a kind of whimsical feel, from
madrigals to loves sonnets. “Knots” with its staccato a cappella
harmonies and xylophone is a highlight, if less accessible, alongside
“Panurge,” the comedy of “A Dog’s Life” and the lovely and sad, “Think of Me
With Kindness.”
3. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King – The
progenitor of them all. This is where, in 1968, it all began. Fripp leads an
incredible cast that is lyrically blessed by Pete Sinfield and vocalized by
Greg Lake. There are flaws that can be forgiven based on the myriad of firsts
and the notion that rock music was about quality musicianship.
2. Selling England By the Pound – Gabriel and the band at
their finest. Gabriel usurped leadership, but each of the members could claim
equal musicianship. Sometimes it's about Gabriel, sometimes about Hackett, etc.,
but the whole is what makes this number 2 on the list. And not enough is ever
said about Collins’ jazz drum take.
1. Close to the Edge – I published a post on the LP's
virtues in the past. This is one that takes nothing but a listen to fall under
its spell.
The big question from some of you is, if Dark Side of the
Moon is your favorite LP of all time, how can it be No. 5 on your prog list?
It’s the standout LP even amongst this bunch, but it is only minimally prog,
and so in the grand scheme of things, it ranks 5th.
Others that didn’t quite make the list include ELO’s
prog-pop Eldorado, Amon Duul II’s Yeti, which is far ahead of its time, The
Soft Machine’s Third, which like the Mahavishnu Orchestra is more fusion than
prog, Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Anthony Phillips’ The
Geese and the Ghost, Steve Hackett’s Voyage of the Acolyte and a myriad of LPs
from bands already on the list such as ELP’s Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery,
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Animals, King Crimson’s Poseidon, and
Lark’s Tongue in Aspic, and Yes’s Fragile, Relayer, and Tales From Topographic
Oceans.
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